Tag: homecare

ALONE have launched a COVID-19 support line, which is available to all older people including those that have never used their services before. Supporting the clinical advice and information being provided by the HSE, ALONE’s support line is available at 0818 222 024 from 8am-8pm, seven days a week.

The ALONE helpline offers advice and support for COVID-19 and other issues that are arising for older people at this time, including difficulties in relation to physical and mental health, loneliness, isolation, finance, safety, and housing. As well as ongoing telephone support, volunteers are also collecting and delivering prescriptions, groceries or other necessary items for the older people. ALONE’s network of support is constantly expanding and evolving to meet the needs of older people throughout Ireland.

They are working in collaboration with Local Authorities and the Local Authority Community Response Forum providing practical supports to older and medically vulnerable people. ALONE’s support line has become the leading national number for ‘Community Call’, an initiative that links local and national Government with the community and voluntary sectors to provide support to older people and those who are at risk at this time. The partnership is crucial in mobilising a rapid response in every county to make sure everyone is looked after.

ALONE have since launched a dedicated referral line for professionals including Home Care Providers, Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, Hospitals, Primary Care, the HSE, GP’s, members of PPN’s and other community services, including pharmacy staff. This referral pathway is operational seven days a week, Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm, Saturday – Sunday 9am – 5pm by calling 01 223 3632. This number is specifically for professionals who wish to make a referral including your own staff, and all older people should continue to phone ALONE’s national support line number at 0818 222 024.

As family members, neighbours and communities return to work, there may be a reduction in supports available to those who are at risk. ALONE has highlighted that physical and mental health difficulties are causing increased challenges for older people, with many calling ALONE’s helpline to say they have fallen or are experiencing illness or pain, but do not want to go to GP surgeries or A&E due to anxiety around contracting COVID-19. Lack of access to chiropody and other services are having a direct impact on people’s ability to leave their home for exercise safely, and many callers indicate deconditioning and point to increasing frailty as a result of cocooning. ALONE have also noted a continuing increase in the number of older people expressing very low mood due to cocooning.

It is not yet know what the full impact of cocooning will have on our older people of Ireland, who are medically and socially vulnerable. So we are encouraging all older people experiencing difficulties to please seek help and for younger people to seek supports for older relatives and neighbours that Alone are offering. For more information visit https://alone.ie/

We would like to remind everyone to please use trusted sources only, for more information on COVID-19, healthcare and homecare workers information, mental health and the virus, government measures and employment please take a look at some of the below websites:

We have lots of job vacancies available nationwide, please have a look at the jobs section on our website for something near you. You can also call our homecare team on 1800 400 900 and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/myhomecare/

National Carers Week 2018

National Carers Week 2018

Monday 11th June – Sunday 17th June

National Carers Week 2018 was established to highlight and recognise all the selfless carers. In Ireland, we have a whopping 360,000 family carers. This years National Carers Week is in partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, The Irish Cancer Society, The Irish Hospice Foundation, MS Ireland, Care Allianz Ireland, Central Remedial Clinic, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Disability Federation of Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, St Michael’s House, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland and Special Needs Parents Association.

Who is a carer?

A carer is an angel without wings. The term ‘carer’ can be used to describe both a paid care worker or a family member providing unpaid personal help and support to an older, disabled person or someone with a long-term illness or health problem. Personal help includes help with basic tasks such as feeding, washing and dressing. A carer could be a man or woman looking after an elderly parent as they feel that it is the right thing to do. It could be a sibling looking after a younger, disabled sibling. It could be someone caring for a terminally-ill friend. Carers come in all different shapes and sizes. There are four types of people – those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.

What can you do?

The most important thing that you can do is to help a carer you know. If there is a carer in your family let them know that they are doing a wonderful job and that they are appreciated. Caring can have an impact on the carers social life, cause financial strain and can be mentally and physically exhausting. Take the workload off them by sharing the responsibilities between other family members, friends and neighbours. Help them and expect nothing back in return. A happy life is about giving more than you can take. Share blog posts, carer events or information that you see on social media to raise awareness about National Carers Week 2018.

Recognising our carers

Myhomecare would like to say a very special thanks to our dedicated and hard-working carers. We have such an exceptional team of the highest standards that work with us both internally and externally that are always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that only the best quality of care is provided. We would also like to acknowledge all carers across Ireland for their continuous hard-work. This week should encourage others to support carers who they know and give them the well-deserved break that they deserve.

Looking after the carer

The demand for care is increasing as people are living longer and family carers are looking for more support services like help from paid carers. Due to their dedication and nature, carers tend to neglect their own needs as they focus on the patient. This often leads to burnout or stress. The exhaustion from this stress can result in the reduction in the quality of care being delivered by the carer. To be able to care for someone else you need to look after yourself too.

Get help

It is important that if you feel you are experiencing signs of stress that you identify it and use techniques that help you unwind. If you are experiencing long-term stress that is affecting your health you should visit your doctor. Talk to someone and ask for help. People don’t like to burden others with their problems but speaking to someone can relieve tension and they might even be able to offer a solution to help.

Nationwide Events

Thu 14 Jun Louth Carers Support Group Exhibition

Details

Louth Family Carers Support Group will mark Carers Week 2018 on June 14th from 1.45pm to 4pm.

Located in the Westcourt Hotel, Drogheda, the Louth Family Carers Support Group will present an afternoon dedicated to Carers issues.

This is a free event, and all are welcome to attend and join in recognising the valuable role carers play.

The local Redcross Community organisation will be one of the key exhibitors, and they will be showcasing their specially designed Carers App.

Celebrating its 11th year, National Carers Week takes place this week from Monday 12th – Sunday 18th June. National Carers Week aims to highlight and recognise all the hard-working carers in Ireland. This is a great time to raise awareness of the valuable contribution that carers make to all of our lives. The week is being coordinated by Care Alliance Ireland, in partnership with The Alzheimer Society, The Irish Cancer Society, Family Carers Ireland, The Disability Federation of Ireland, MS Ireland, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Inclusion Ireland, St. Michael’s House, The Irish Hospice Foundation and The Special Needs Parents Association.

Myhomecare

To celebrate National Carers Week, we would like to thank and praise our dedicated carers in Myhomecare. At Myhomecare, we have an exceptional team that works with us both internally and externally. They are dedicated, hard working, reliable and willing to go above and beyond to ensure that our care recipients and families receive the best quality of care. Special events are taking place nationwide to celebrate carers. For the full list of events across Ireland, please visit: http://www.carersweek.ie/events#.WT_p12jyuM8.

Being a Carer

We would also like to acknowledge all carers across Ireland for their continuous hard-work. This week should encourage others to support carers who they know and give them the well-deserved break that they deserve. National Carers Week is important as many people throughout Ireland can relate to it. From the carers that have chosen it as a career, to the people that provide care for family members and loved-ones. You could say that caring applies to almost everyone as there are those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers. There are around 360,000 family carers in Ireland at present.

As people are living longer, the call for care is increasing, resulting in the expansion of the care industry. Carers are seeking more respite services and support. What is a carer? Some might say that a carer is an angel without wings. A carer is many things. It is someone who can show empathy, respect, patience and kindness. A carer treats a person the way that they deserve to be treated. Due to their dedication, some carers might experience guilt if they do things for themselves so they end up focusing solely on the patient and neglecting their own needs, resulting in burnout or stress. The exhaustion from this stress can result in the reduction in the quality of care being delivered by the carer. As you cannot pour from an empty vessel, a good carer knows that to be able to care for others, they must also care for themselves.

Stress and the carer

Being a carer can be demanding and being under pressure can lead to stress, especially if you feel you have little control over the situation. People handle pressure and react to stress in different ways so what might be stressful to one carer might not be to another. There are many symptoms of stress and stress can affect the way you think, act and feel. It can also have physical impacts. Here are some signs that you may be stressed.

Symptoms of stress:

Depression

Exhaustion

Anger

Anxiety

Constantly worrying

Insomnia

High blood pressure

Low-mood

Racing thoughts

Repeatedly going over things

Constantly on the go

Change in eating habits

Temper

Unsociable

Drinking/smoking more

Headaches

Muscle tension

Coping with your stress

Above are only some signs and symptoms of stress, it is important that if you feel you are experiencing signs of stress that you identify it right away and use techniques that help you DE-stress. If you are experiencing long-term stress that is affecting your health you should visit your local GP immediately. A lot of people are unwilling to ask for help when feeling stressed, but asking for help or talking to someone can help. If your stress is affecting your daily life it is important to talk to someone, whether it be a friend, a family member or a counsellor. Talking to someone else can help to relieve stress and if you ask for advice you could find yourself resolving your problems.

Tips for reducing stress

Deep-breathing – practice relaxation.

Listening to music -music can release endorphin’s and happy hormones, reducing stress.

Reading – distracts the brain form stress.

Walking – releases endorphin’s and reduces depression.

Reduce caffeine intake as it can worsen stress.

Reduce alcohol intake – alcohol is a depressant and can reduce stress in the short-term but in the long-run can cause anxiety, depression and stress.

Exercising – boosts mood.

Getting enough sleep – sleep deprivation can have many emotional side affects such as irritability, loss in concentration. It can also have serious health complications such as heart disease and stroke.

Remain positive – don’t focus on the negative, life is too short.

Laugh! Life isn’t about waiting for the bad moments to pass, it is about learning how to love and live in them.

Reward yourself

Care-giving is a job and remember that in a job you are entitled to breaks. Take a rest when rest is due. Tiring yourself out will only make you irritable, affect your health and the quality of your care.

When people offer you their help – accept it. Help might not come by that often and instead of feeling that you must do everything in your power for your patient, accept that you deserve a break and that people genuinely might want to help.

Grieve but allow yourself to move on. Losing a patient or a loved-one is never easy. Try not to hold on to the past or to have regrets. Focus on the present and do the best that you can as a caregiver.

Stand up for your rights as a caregiver. Learn your patients condition inside out and explain this to doctors. Don’t underestimate yourself, know that your efforts to love and make your patient feel comfortable and safe is the most important thing. Go with your gut instinct and fight for what you believe you and your patient are entitled to.

Embrace your care-giving choice: Sometimes carers can feel resentment from stress or burnout but remember why you have made the choice to provide care and focus on this. It was either that you felt you would be the best provider for your loved-one, that you love looking after people, you want to nurture and care for people and have an impact on the welfare of their life.

Don’t let care-giving take over your whole life. Get some hobbies, take up something you have always had an interest in. It is important not to lose who you are as a person.